Hispanic Chamber Blog

​Businesses throughout Arizona continue to explore untapped business opportunities with businesses and governments in Sonora and beyond. Not enough of our small and medium sized businesses are aware of the incredible economic opportunities in the region. Our Tucson Hispanic Chamber focuses on promoting the bilingual and bicultural region of the Arizona Sonora border and has championed an effort to assist businesses of all sizes on growing relations between our two countries.This month our Tucson Hispanic Chamber hosted a special reception in Tucson with the Sonora Secretary of Economy Jorge Vidal. Secretary Vidal’s role as a business leader in Sonora and the co-owner of TV Azteca Sonora as well as his official capacity as the Secretary of Economy provides his office with a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced within the region. The chamber reception was significant for our member businesses who are interested in engaging in trade in the Arizona Sonora Mega Region.Secretary Vidal highlighted many of the recent investments in Sonora and we discussed how our business community in Sonora and Southern Arizona can connect. Some of the investments he spoke about included:

A New Hospital in Hermosillo for $50 million dollars

Grupo Mexico spending on environmental services in Cananea for $200 million dollars

Constellation Brands plant expansion for $800 million dollars in Cuidad de Obregon

Our chamber’s relationship with his Economic Development office continues to flourish. We will continue to host “Doing business in Sonora” and “Doing business in Arizona” workshops in coordination with his office. We also discussed proactive communications to American land owners in Mexico whose leases will expire at the end of 2017. Continued conversations and communication is key to growing the Arizona-Sonora economy.Another example of improving communications was determined at the recent Arizona Mexico Commission Summit held in Phoenix. While attending the bi-national Tourism committee, we learned of challenges faced in learning about events, festivals and meetings happening across the border. In response, our chamber launched “Crossborder Connections”, a communications platform as a resource to our bi-national business communities. Information will be shared via email and in social media platforms for businesses to participate and engage as vendors. Tourism agencies, Expo coordinators and Conference Hosts in Arizona and Sonora who are interested in attracting foreign nationals may email their event to noticias@tucsonhispanicchamber.org.As the President of the largest Latino business organization in Arizona, I am frequently called on to provide input to the media about the international trade political debate between the U.S and Mexico. Our chamber’s advocacy voice and the promotion of the importance of Mexico as Arizona’s number one trading partner is vital in these turmoil political times. But just as important is the grassroots effort our chamber and others engage in to maintain communications and strong economic relationships with our partners throughout Sonora. Join us at a future Tucson Hispanic Chamber event and learn more about our international work at www.TucsonHispanicChamber.org.

Lea Marquez Peterson is the President/CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber and its affiliate chambers in Sierra Vista, Douglas and Ambos Nogales. The chamber represents more than 1800 businesses in the Arizona Sonora Mega region.

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Welcome to the Tucson Hispanic Chamber Blog Page.

Our goal is to help member companies grow and prosper. We work to achieve this goal by advocating a pro-business agenda in Tucson and connecting members with business leaders and policy makers. How? With Networking & educational events, and online initiatives — like this blog.

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